Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for processing data. During operation, the system obtains a graph of a social network, wherein the graph includes a set of nodes representing users in the social network and a set of edges representing relationships between pairs of the users. Next, the system stores, on a single computer system, a static representation of the graph, wherein the static representation includes a first set of fixed-size blocks representing the nodes and the edges and a first index that maps a set of identifiers for the nodes and the edges to offsets of the first set of fixed-size blocks. The system then uses the static representation of the graph to process, by the single computer system, one or more queries of the graph.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for processing data. During operation, the system obtains a set of topics associated with a set of content items. Next, the system obtains a first set of attributes associated with a first topic in the set of topics and a second set of attributes associated with a second topic in the set of topics. Next, the system calculates a similarity between the first and second sets of attributes and applies a threshold to the similarity to identify the first and second topics as synonymous when the similarity exceeds a threshold. The system then merges the first and second topics under a representative topic. Finally, the system displays the representative topic to a user to improve understanding of the set of content items by the user without requiring the user to manually analyze the set of content items.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for processing data. During operation, the system obtains a set of content items and a set of topics in the set of content items. For each topic in the set of topics, the system automatically extracts a set of attributes that provides a context for the topic from a subset of the content items containing the topic. The system then displays the set of attributes in the context of the topic to improve understanding of the set of content items by the user without requiring the user to manually analyze the set of content items.

Abstract: Techniques for inferring a professional reputation for a member of an online social networking service are described. A recommendation graph is generated from professional recommendations submitted by members of the online social networking service for other members of the online social networking service. Using the generated recommendation graph, a reputation model is trained to learn a respective importance for each respective feature of a set of features of electronic profiles on the online social networking service. A professional reputation of a member of the online social networking service is estimated by applying the trained reputation model to a feature vector of the electronic profile of the member, producing a score representing the professional reputation of the member.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for assigning or allocating multiple content objects, within a content page (e.g., web page) or other content collection (e.g., a set of pages), to different content delivery networks for delivery in response to a content request. The objects are ranked by importance (e.g., importance in rendering or presenting the page), and the networks are ranked by performance (e.g., throughput). In order of importance, the objects are assigned to the best-performing network that is “available.” Some or all networks are initially available, and a given network becomes “unavailable” after it has been assigned its portion of the objects (e.g., based on content, number of objects, amount of data, percentage). If a total accumulated cost of delivering the objects exceeds a target before all objects have been allocated, the allocation process may terminate early and the remaining objects may be assigned to the least-expensive network.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for pacing the serving of a sponsored content item. The rate of depletion of the sponsored content item, or the current rate at which it wins auctions to be served in response to compatible content requests is used to forecast the state of the item's periodic budget at the end of a current period. If the budget is not forecast to be depleted close to the end of the period, within a threshold measure of value or time, a new win rate that will accomplish the goal is determined. Based on past performance, which may be represented as a collection of estimated costs per impression (eCPI) or as ratios of the item's eCPI to a winning item's eCPI, a new bid can be determined that is estimated to yield the new win rate.

Abstract: In order to expand the audience for an advertising campaign, a system identifies an expanded audience for the advertising campaign based on characteristics of individuals in the expanded audience and a target audience of the advertising campaign. Then, the system compares a historical cumulative advertising performance metric at a current time for the target audience with a current cumulative advertising performance metric at the current time for the target audience in the advertising campaign. Next, the system selectively changes a probability of showing advertisements in the advertising campaign to individuals in the expanded audience based on the comparison. For example, if a current cumulative number of daily advertising impressions at the current time is less than a historical cumulative number of daily advertising impressions at a current time, the system increases the probability.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for performing network A/B testing. During operation, the system obtains a graph of a social network and calculates a set of equally sized clusters of users in the social network by iteratively switching memberships of the nodes among the equally sized clusters to increase a number of edges in each of the equally sized clusters. Next, the system randomly selects a subset of the equally sized clusters for exposure to a treatment version of a message. The system then performs an A/B test by presenting the treatment version to the selected clusters and tracking a response of the selected clusters to the treatment version.

Abstract: In order to prevent data thrashing and the resulting performance degradation, a computer system may maintain an application-layer cache space to more effectively use physical memory and, thus, significantly improve an application-memory hit ratio and reduce disk input-output operations. In particular, the computer system may maintain a managed memory cache that is separate from an operating systems' default page cache. The managed memory cache may be managed according to predefined caching rules that are separate from rules used to manage the page cache. Moreover, at least one of the data entries in the managed memory cache may have a page size that is smaller than a minimum page size of the page cache. Furthermore, at least some of the data entries in the managed memory cache may have different page sizes and, more generally, different associated predefined caching rules.

Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus are provided for performing capacity planning within a system that experiences high volumes of data having high velocity and high variability. Based on historical traffic, a forecast is generated for one or more relatively coarse time periods (e.g., weeks, days), and is decomposed to yield finer-grained forecasts (e.g., for hours, minutes) by applying a distribution index also generated from historical traffic. Estimated replication latency for the forecast period can be calculated from the traffic forecast and an expected level of replication capacity. Further, a required amount of replication capacity can be determined based on a traffic forecast and a maximum replication latency permitted by a service level agreement (SLA) of an event consumer. In addition, replication headroom can be computed, to identify a maximum level of traffic that can be sustained without violating an SLA and/or a date/time at which a violation may occur.

Abstract: In order to prevent unauthorized access to information, a system may analyze and may selectively store the information provided based on requests from users that are not unauthorized to access the information. In particular, the system may receive a request for information associated with a document (such as a web page) from an authorized user, either in real-time (i.e., during live or online operation of the system) or offline (in which case the system may operate as a proxy for a live feed of requests). In response, the system may provide or replay the request, but may include the credentials of an unauthorized user. Then, the system may analyze the response to the request to determine if the response is substantive (i.e., includes information). If yes, the system may store the response for use in subsequent analysis and to guide remedial action.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and methods are provided for conditionally forwarding electronic messages. Users of an online application or service are provided internal addresses (e.g., electronic mail addresses) within a domain (e.g., an Internet domain) of the application or service. When a message is received that is addressed to a user's internal address, it is queued for conditional forwarding to an external address of the user (e.g., an electronic mail address in a domain other than the domain of the application or service). After a threshold period of time lapses, if the message was not read via the online system (e.g., via web or mobile client software) it is forwarded to the external address. If additional messages were received for the same conversation or thread, they may be forwarded at the same time. Messages may be forwarded in their original form; multiple messages may be forwarded in digest form.

Abstract: As part of a query-processing technique, in response to receiving queries for information stored in a distributed storage system and associated query-processing information identifying sets of predefined operations to perform on one or more databases in the distributed storage system, the distributed storage system accesses sets of predefined operations. Then, for the sets of predefined operations on the one or more databases, the distributed storage system uses one or more adaptors for multiple storage subsystems in the distributed storage system and one or more indexes corresponding to collections of information in the one or more databases. Moreover, the distributed storage system executes the sets of predefined operations on the multiple storage subsystems to obtain results for the queries. The sets of predefined operations may be defined by different users, so that the distributed storage system can be adapted to these users' needs.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus or system for tracking and analyzing user interactions with a mobile user interface (UI). During operation, the apparatus collects data while a user interacts with the mobile UI through a touchscreen, wherein the data includes tap-attempt data that specifies coordinates for touchscreen locations that the user has tapped while interacting with the mobile UI. Next, the apparatus compares the tap-attempt data with locations of tappable elements in the mobile UI, wherein each tappable element has an associated tap target size. For each tappable element, the apparatus uses results of the comparison to determine a percentage of tap attempts that have succeeded or failed for the associated tap target size. Finally, the apparatus makes the percentage information available to a UI designer to enable the UI designer to adjust tap target sizes for the mobile UI.

Abstract: Displaying a preference by a user of a content contribution is disclosed. A preference event by the user is detected. A plurality of detected events is stored. In response to a query from a client, at least a portion of the stored detected events is stored. At least a portion of the received events is displayed in an interface.

Abstract: Displaying a preference by a user of a content contribution is disclosed. A preference event by the user is detected. A plurality of detected events is stored. In response to a query from a client, at least a portion of the stored detected events is stored. At least a portion of the received events is displayed in an interface.

Abstract: Recording a first user's preference for a content contribution submitted by a second user is disclosed. In response to only a single action taken by the first user interacting with a web page, an indication is received that a preference event occurred. The preference event is associated with the content contribution. Information associated with the first user's profile is updated. At least a portion of the web page is continued to be displayed to the user after receiving the preference event.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for indexing electronic content to be served to users' mobile and/or stationary communications and computing devices. An index is composed of multiple slices, with each slice storing multiple entries and each entry representing one content item or one campaign or collection of content items. An entry is populated with tokens representing attribute/value pairs of a target audience of the content item and/or property/value pairs of the item or the item's campaign. A query or request to identify content items for serving to a particular user is similarly formatted with tokens representing attribute/value pairs of the user and/or item/campaign. Queries can then be executed rapidly across any or all index entries in any or all slices. Within a slice, entries may be sorted by value or score, and integer components within an individual entry may be sorted to facilitate rapid comparison with a query.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a method and system for managing online advertising. During operation, the system obtains a constraint on a first metric associated with an online advertising auction. Next, the system uses a computer to generate a tradeoff curve of the first metric and a second metric associated with the online advertising auction and use the tradeoff curve to obtain a value for the second metric that meets the constraint on the first metric. The system then uses the value to manage the online advertising auction.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for career path navigation are presented. A request to identify a set of positions sequentially related to an origin position may be received. The request may be associated with a user of a social network service. Member profiles from among a plurality of member profiles of the social network service may be identified based on the origin position. A plurality of positions may be extracted from the identified member profiles. The set of positions may be determined from among the extracted plurality of positions based on a sequential relationship between the origin position and respective positions of the extracted plurality of positions. At least a portion of the set of positions may be caused to be presented to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for improved management of charity calling programs are described. According to various embodiments, a request from a caller to participate in a charity call program associated with a particular charitable organization is received. A recipient that is currently not assigned to a caller associated with the charity call program is identified, based on an electronic recipient call list. Contact information associated with the recipient is then provided to the caller. Thereafter, it is determined that the caller has successfully communicated with the specific recipient. The electronic recipient call list is then updated to indicate that the caller has successfully communicated with the specific recipient.

Abstract: An inferred seniority system, in one example embodiment, may be configured to determine seniority levels for member profiles maintained by an on-line social network system, based on information stored in the member profiles, and also based on a hierarchical structure termed a seniority pyramid. The system may first determine seniority labels for each of the profiles in a group of member profiles based on information in respective member profiles. The system then determines, for groups of profiles that are given their respective seniority labels, percentages of profiles associated with respective seniority labels. Respective seniority levels for the groups of profiles are determined based on respective percentages of profiles associated with respective seniority labels and the percentage ranges associated with seniority levels that are stored in the seniority pyramid structure.

Abstract: A method and system to suggest keywords to a social network member is described. A suggested keywords system, in one example embodiment, examines phrases that appear in profiles maintained by the on-line social networking system that are similar to the target profile and identifies those words and phrases that are most prominent in these profiles, utilizing discriminative strength values. These most prominent words and phrases may be presented to the target member as suggested keywords to be included in the member's professional summary.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium, and computer-implemented method for maintaining an accurate organization chart, are presented. The method may include accessing organization chart data defining a hierarchy of an organization comprising a group of users. At least one user of the group of users may be prompted to provide verification information pertaining to the accuracy of a portion of the organization chart data. Upon receiving the verification information from the at least one user, the method may include updating the organization chart data in accordance with the verification information.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a method, system and apparatus for processing data. During operation, the system obtains a set of content items containing unstructured data. Next, the system obtains a set of part-of-speech (POS) tags for lexical items in the set of content items. The system then uses a computer to match the POS tags to one or more POS tagging patterns to obtain a set of candidate topics for the set of content items and extract a set of topics for the set of content items from the set of candidate topics.

Abstract: A system receives and stores in a database identifications and attributes of jobs viewed by a user in a job posting service, and creates a job browsing history profile for the user using the identifications and attributes. The system compares the job browsing history profile to jobs in the job posting service, generates a listing of jobs based on the comparison, and displays the listing of jobs to the user.

Abstract: A method and system to determine member profiles for off-line targeting is described. An example system comprises an access module to access a member profile in the on-line social network system, a category score module, a member segmentation module, and a communications module. The category score module may be configured to generate a definition score for the member profile based on phrases that are present in the member profile, generate a propensity score for the member profile based on behavior data of a member represented by the member profile, and combine the definition score and the propensity score to generate a subscriber score for the member profile. The member segmentation module may be configured to compare the subscriber score of the member profile to a threshold value. The communications module may be configured to selectively send a communication to the member based on a result of the comparing.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for distributing a content item toward target recipients solely via first degree connections (e.g., in a professional network, in a social network). For a selected content item and identified target recipients of the item, when a user initiates a message to forward or otherwise convey the content item, one or more schemes are applied to select and automatically populate the message with suitable addressees. In one scheme, values are computed for each neighbor of the sender, to indicate the value of delivering the item to that neighbor; the message is automatically addressed to the highest-value neighbors. In another scheme, user communities that encompass the target recipients are identified and the message is automatically addressed to neighbors that are best able to disseminate the item throughout a community. In another scheme a minimal set of neighbors having connections to all target recipients is identified.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for distributing a content item toward target recipients solely via first degree connections (e.g., in a professional network, in a social network). For a selected content item and identified target recipients of the item, when a user initiates a message to forward or otherwise convey the content item, one or more schemes are applied to select and automatically populate the message with suitable addressees. In one scheme, values are computed for each neighbor of the sender, to indicate the value of delivering the item to that neighbor; the message is automatically addressed to the highest-value neighbors. In another scheme, user communities that encompass the target recipients are identified and the message is automatically addressed to neighbors that are best able to disseminate the item throughout a community. In another scheme a minimal set of neighbors having connections to all target recipients is identified.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a reputation system. The reputation system includes a ranking apparatus that obtains a set of reputation scores for one or more dimensions of a set of items in the reputation system and generates a ranking of the items based on the reputation scores and the one or more quantiles. The reputation system also includes a query-processing apparatus that obtains a query comprising the one or more dimensions and one or more quantiles associated with the one or more dimensions and provides the ranking in a response to the query.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a reputation system. The reputation system includes a statistical model associated with a set of items and a set of dimensions of the items in the reputation system, wherein the statistical model is trained using a positive class and a negative class. The reputation system also includes a scoring apparatus that applies the statistical model to a set of features for each of the items to estimate a set of reputation scores for the items. Finally, the reputation system includes a ranking apparatus that enables use of the set of reputation scores in the reputation system.

Abstract: Methods and systems of dynamically updating content in e-mail messages are described. In some embodiments, an e-mail message is generated. The e-mail message comprises existing content viewable within an e-mail client and is configured to initiate a modification of the existing content within the e-mail message by the e-mail client subsequent to the e-mail message being downloaded by the e-mail client. The modification of the existing content is viewable within the e-mail client. The generated e-mail message is sent to an e-mail account from which a user can view the e-mail message within the e-mail client. In some embodiments, the e-mail message is further configured to cause the e-mail client to obtain new content from a remote server for use in the modification of the existing content within the e-mail message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating recommendations based on data derived from a social network are described. For example, a community in a social network service to which a plurality of member profiles belongs may be selected. A first prediction score for a first member profile and a second prediction score for a second member profile may be generated. Each of the first prediction scores may be based on a function of a first time period in which both a source member profile and the corresponding member profile belonged to the community. A selection is then made between the first member profile and the second member profile based on a comparison of the first prediction score and the second prediction score. A connection recommendation representing the selected member profile is then surfaced to an account of the source member profile.

Abstract: An online social networking service maintains a profile of a member. The service also receives requirements from an employer for an employment position. The service compares the profile of the member to the requirements for the employment position. When the profile of the member matches or exceeds the requirements for the employment position, the service transmits a message to the employer containing the profile of the member. The service receives a response from the employer regarding the member and the employment position. When the employer exhibits an interest in the member for the employment position, the service transmits a message to the member informing the member of the employer's interest.

Abstract: A system and method may include an electronic data storage configured to store content items and an established category with which a first subset of the content items are associated. The system may further include a processor, coupled to the electronic data storage, configured to generate a new category different than the established category and related to a second subset of the content items based, at least in part, on a relationship of the content items of the second subset with respect to one another, identify a statistic related to an inclusion of at least some of the content items of at least one of the first subset and the second subset into a social network by users of the social network, and cause information related to the statistic to be displayed on a user interface.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums which automatically convert an unstandardized attribute value of a member profile of a social networking service to one of a plurality of standardized values for that attribute. In some examples, the method utilizes various matching and similarity metrics in combination with social aspects available to a social networking service to determine the best standardized value that matches the unstandardized value entered by the user.

Abstract: A system and method optionally includes an electronic data storage configured to store content items introduced to a social network by a first user and to store interactions with the content items by second user of the social network. The system further includes a processor, coupled to the electronic data storage, configured to determine an influence of the first user based, at least in part, on the interaction by the second user with at least one of the content items as introduced by the first user and a characteristic of the second user and cause an indication of the influence of the first user to be displayed on a user interface.

Abstract: An autofill system is described for auto-populating electronic forms with data stored by an on-line social networking system. When a member of an on-line social network system accesses, via a web browser, an autofill-enabled web page, the autofill system determines an identification of the member, scrapes the member's profile to obtain member's information, assembles the member's profile information as member data, and communicates the member data to the web browser together with a script for presenting an autofill button on the web page.

Abstract: A method of presenting on a device of a user of a social-networking system information about other users of the social-networking system is disclosed. A location of the user of a social-networking system is determined. Locations of the additional users of the social-networking system are determined. A subset of the additional users of the social networking system is selected based on the location of the user and the locations of the additional users and based on information stored in a profile of the user in comparison to information stored in profiles of the additional users. Instructions are transmitted to a device of a user, the instructions instructing the device to display in a condensed visual form the subset of the information stored in the profiles of the additional users.

Abstract: Techniques for populating a content stream of a mobile application are described. A content request for content to be presented in a personalized activity or content stream of a member of a social networking service is communicated from a mobile computing device to a content server. The content request includes a member identifier, location information indicating the current location of the member, and/or an activity status identifier indicating an inferred physical activity state of the member. Using the information received with the content request, a content selection and relevance module will process the request and provide contextually relevant content for presentation in the member's activity or content stream, at the mobile device.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for supporting and/or executing count-distinct queries. A large set of data (e.g., tens or hundreds of millions of event records) is condensed daily to generate presence bitmaps to reflect the distinctiveness of a selected data dimension S (e.g., user ID) for one or more key dimensions g1, g2, . . . (e.g., advertisement ID, campaign ID, advertiser ID). The condensation process eliminates duplication and yields a single value (e.g., 1 or 0) for each tuple [S, g1, . . . ] to represent the distinctiveness of each value in the S dimension to each combination of values in the grouping dimensions. On a monthly basis, the daily values are condensed to yield a single value for the month, and a similar process is applied on any other desired time granularities (e.g., year). The condensed data may be generated for any combination of selected dimension(s) and grouping dimension(s).

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided for supporting and/or executing count-distinct queries. A large set of data (e.g., tens or hundreds of millions of event records) is condensed daily to generate presence bitmaps to reflect the distinctiveness of a selected data dimension S (e.g., user ID) for one or more key dimensions g1, g2, . . . (e.g., advertisement ID, campaign ID, advertiser ID). The condensation process eliminates duplication and yields a single value (e.g., 1 or 0) for each tuple [S, g1, . . . ] to represent the distinctiveness of each value in the S dimension to each combination of values in the grouping dimensions. On a monthly basis, the daily values are condensed to yield a single value for the month, and a similar process is applied on any other desired time granularities (e.g., year). The condensed data may be generated for any combination of selected dimension(s) and grouping dimension(s).

Abstract: A system, apparatus, method and computer-program product are provided for determining affinities between members of an on-line service and/or one member's likely propensity for content published by or on behalf of another member. Members of the service include individuals and organizations. A content item may be an announcement by or for a member, an advertisement, a job listing or something else. Content items available for service to an individual member are ranked based on the member's propensity for consuming them, as reflected in scores computed for each item. An item's propensity score may be calculated based on the relevance and/or proximity between the member and an organization featured in or associated with the item. Relevance may measure the similarity between profiles of the individual and the organization. Proximity may be affected by whether the individual and/or associates of the individual follow the organization, visit a page of the organization, etc.

Abstract: An example project management tool, which is a computer-implemented system configured to provide a real-time view of a product change with respect to its status within a testing process, is provided. In operation, the project management tool receives a request to create a new project for a particular product change, determines the requirement definition included in the request and, based on the requirement definition, identifies all components of the associated computing application that are affected by the product change. The project management tool then uses the monitored information to generate one or more views that may provide users with information regarding the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the product that has a certain product change incorporated into it.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that uses data from an online social network to optimize subscription offers. During operation of the online social network, the system gathers data associated with subscription offers that were presented to members of the online social network, including information about which subscription offers were converted. Next, the system uses a machine-learning technique to train a model based on the gathered data. Finally, the system uses the trained model to select subscription offers to present to a member of the online social network.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages online advertising. During operation, the system calculates an intrinsic value of an online advertisement slot from at least one of a user engagement value and a cannibalization value. Next, the system obtains a reserve price for the online advertisement slot from at least one of the intrinsic value and an advertiser value. Finally, the system uses the reserve price to manage serving of online advertisements from a set of advertising campaigns in the online advertisement slot.

Abstract: A method of presenting translated content items is disclosed. It is detected that a content item has been captured by a device of a user. It is identified that the content item is a candidate content item for translation. The candidate content item is translated; and the translated candidate content item is presented via a user interface of a wearable display of the device.

Abstract: An example request change tracker may be used to create, modify, monitor, and report events occurring within a development and testing pipeline with respect to one or more computing applications. A request change tracker may include a pipeline event detector, a testing stage detector, a control module, and a reporting module. The pipeline event detector detects a pipeline event indicative of a status of a code module with respect to a pipeline. The testing stage detector determines the associated testing stage in the pipeline, based on the pipeline event. The control module initiates actions with respect to the pipeline, based on the determined testing stage. The reporting module updates a reporting log with information related to the state, progress and results of a testing stage in the pipeline.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating retargeting of content are described. According to various embodiments, a user specification of a first set of content items and a second set of content items may be received. Moreover, a user specification of flow logic information may be received. The flow logic information may specify a user trigger action, and an instruction that a second content item in the second set is only to be displayed to a particular user after it is determined that the particular user has performed the user trigger action on the first content item. Thereafter, it may be determined that the particular user has performed the user trigger action on the first content item, and the second content item may be displayed to the particular user, based on the flow logic information.

Abstract: Methods and systems of optimizing e-mail for mobile devices are described. In some embodiments, an e-mail message is caused to be displayed within an e-mail client on a mobile device. The e-mail message comprises a selectable link corresponding to a website action that can be performed on a website. A user on the mobile device is enabled to cause a performance of an e-mail action corresponding to the website action via the e-mail client without navigating to the website, such as via a new e-mail message generated within the e-mail client. A mobile link configured to cause the performance of the action via the e-mail client can be included in the e-mail message. A CSS pseudo-element can be included in CSS rules for the e-mail message. The CSS pseudo-element can be configured to generate mobile content associated with the mobile link.